Which professional role is primarily responsible for medication safety and reconciliation during interprofessional rounds?

• A. Physician
• B. Nurse
• C. Social Worker
• D. Pharmacist

Answer: (D)

Medication safety and reconciliation during interprofessional rounds hinges on the pharmacist’s specialized expertise in pharmacotherapy, drug interactions, dosing, and accurate med history. The pharmacist reviews all medications a patient is taking, verifies doses, checks for duplications or contraindications, resolves discrepancies between patient reports and the chart, and ensures the medication list is complete and up-to-date at admissions, transfers, and discharges. This role includes communicating any changes to the team and the patient, and anticipating potential adverse drug events or interactions before they cause harm. While physicians write orders, nurses administer and monitor therapy, and social workers address broader discharge planning, the detailed pharmacology knowledge and reconciliation responsibilities align most closely with the pharmacist, making them the primary professional for medication safety during rounds.